I have a goal so lofty it's almost embarrassing to talk about. And that's to be the best restaurant in the world.
Interpretation
Aspiring for greatness can feel daunting, yet it's essential for achievement.
This quote expresses the ambitious spirit required in pursuit of success, particularly in a challenging field like the culinary arts. Charlie Trotter acknowledges that having an extremely high goal, such as becoming the best restaurant in the world, may seem intimidating or even embarrassing to discuss, but it is this very ambition that drives individuals to surpass their limits and achieve remarkable success.
In practice
In a motivational speech for aspiring chefs, you could say, 'As Charlie Trotter once said, I have a goal so lofty it's almost embarrassing to talk about.'
If you know what you're doing, you can make a meal happen with any kitchen knife. But using a top-quality knife versus a low-quality one is the difference between driving a Jaguar and a VW Jetta across the country. They'll both get you there. But the Jaguar will give you a much smoother ride.
There has been no great surprise, no sudden revelation. I knew pretty much what I was getting into. What I've learned is that a restaurant can be as much of an art as you want it to be, but it has to be a successful business first.
There are many stars and a few super-stars in sport. There are champions who bag a coronet now and then, and there are others who dominate some game year after year. In other words there are Bobby Jones and Helen Wills.
None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps.
If I go into years only thinking about medals I'm missing the whole meaning of what I've always been trying to do, which is trying to push myself and push the barriers of what is possible.
There's a plaque on our wall that says we've sold over 65 million albums, and I don't feel I've accomplished anything. I feel like I'm just getting started.
My proudest moment? Every Friday morning when I look at the board at Celtic Park and see my name on the team sheet for tomorrow's game.
Records are there to be broken. Lots of people would love to swap their world record for an Olympic medal, but for me, my medals are there forever and ever, and that's what does it for me.
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